U.S. patent application number 15/825341 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-31 for ess battery pack case.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Chem, Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG Chem, Ltd.. Invention is credited to In-Jae Gang, Sang-Hyun Jo, Ki-Youn Kim, Bum-Hyun Lee, Jin-Kyu Shin.
Application Number | 20180151857 15/825341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62190401 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180151857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gang; In-Jae ; et
al. |
May 31, 2018 |
ESS BATTERY PACK CASE
Abstract
Disclosed is an energy storage system (ESS) battery pack case,
which includes a case body having at least two plates assembled to
each other by fitting so as to be connected to each other along a
circumferential direction thereof to form a hollow therein, the
case body having an open top end and an open bottom end; and an
upper cover assembly configured to cover the top end of the case
body and a lower cover assembly configured to cover the bottom end
of the case body.
Inventors: |
Gang; In-Jae; (Daejeon,
KR) ; Kim; Ki-Youn; (Daejeon, KR) ; Shin;
Jin-Kyu; (Daejeon, KR) ; Lee; Bum-Hyun;
(Daejeon, KR) ; Jo; Sang-Hyun; (Daejeon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG Chem, Ltd. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG Chem, Ltd.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
62190401 |
Appl. No.: |
15/825341 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 10/425 20130101;
H01M 10/488 20130101; H01M 10/627 20150401; H01M 10/658 20150401;
H01M 2/1072 20130101; H01M 2220/10 20130101; Y02E 60/10
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01M 2/10 20060101
H01M002/10; H01M 10/42 20060101 H01M010/42; H01M 10/48 20060101
H01M010/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0160767 |
Claims
1. An energy storage system (ESS) battery pack case, which has an
inner space formed to accommodate a battery module and electric
component, the ESS battery pack case comprising: a case body having
at least two plates assembled to each other by fitting so as to be
connected to each other along a circumferential direction thereof
to form a hollow therein, the case body having an open top end and
an open bottom end; and an upper cover assembly configured to cover
the top end of the case body and a lower cover assembly configured
to cover the bottom end of the case body.
2. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein an
adhesive sealing material is further interposed at every assembling
portion of the at least two plates.
3. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein an
insert groove is prepared at any one of an end of any one plate
among the plates and an end of another plate adjacent to the any
one plate, and an insert protrusion coupled to the insert groove by
fitting is prepared at the another plate.
4. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 3, wherein the
insert groove and the insert protrusion are respectively formed
successively along a vertical edge of the plates.
5. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the at
least two plates are prepared into a predetermined form by means of
extrusion molding.
6. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein a
drainage hole is formed in the lower case assembly to pass
therethrough in a vertical direction.
7. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein
bolt-coupling blocks are provided in the case body to protrude
inwards at predetermined locations, and wherein the upper and lower
cover assemblies have bolt-coupling holes formed to correspond the
bolt-coupling blocks in one-to-one relationship so that bolts are
respectively coupled and fixed to the top end and the bottom end of
the case body.
8. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the
upper cover assembly and the lower cover assembly respectively
include a cover body configured to cover the top end or the bottom
end of the case body and a strength-reinforcing plate made of metal
and assembled to an inner region of a rim of the cover body.
9. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 8, wherein the
strength-reinforcing plate has a pair of vertical plates disposed
with an interval corresponding to a width of the case body to be
stand vertically with respect to the cover body, and wherein the
case body has a vertical plate insert portion therein, formed at an
inner side of the plates which are opposite to each other in a
width direction of the case body, so that the pair of vertical
plates are vertically coupled to the vertical plate insert portion
by fitting.
10. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 9, wherein the
vertical plate insert portion is provided in a pair so that two
vertical plate insert portions are disposed to be spaced from each
other, and each vertical plate insert portion is formed to protrude
and bend from an inner side of the case body into a "T" shape.
11. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the
case body includes a front plate which forms a front surface and
both side surfaces of the case body, and a rear plate which is
coupled to the front plate by fitting and forms a rear surface of
the case body.
12. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 11, wherein the
front plate includes a front left plate which forms a part of the
front surface and the left surface of the case body, and a front
right plate which is coupled to the front left plate by fitting and
forms the remaining part of the front surface and the right surface
of the case body.
13. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 12, wherein the
front right plate includes a front right upper plate and a front
right lower plate which are assembled up and down so that a display
panel for displaying a state of charge of the battery module to the
outside is interposed therebetween.
14. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 13, wherein bolts
are further coupled to assembling portions where the front left
plate and the front right upper plate are respectively connected to
the rear plate, and a latch is coupled to an assembling portion
where the front right lower plate is connected to the rear
plate.
15. The ESS battery pack case according to claim 13, wherein the
rear plate includes a rear left plate which forms a part of the
rear surface of the case body, and a rear right plate which is
coupled to the rear left plate by fitting and forms the remaining
part of the rear surface of the case body.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2016-0160767 filed on Nov. 29, 2016 in the
Republic of Korea, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack case, and
more particularly, to a battery pack case for an energy storage
system (ESS), which may be fabricated into a middle or large size
by assembling unit plates.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Recently, secondary battery manufacturers are introducing
home energy storage system (ESS) packs as new products. The ESS
pack stores electricity during day time by using a lithium ion
battery and is used when necessary to reduce electricity costs. For
example, a lithium ion battery stores electricity generated by
using solar panels, wind power or the like, and the stored
electricity is used when necessary.
[0004] The home ESS pack may be fabricated in a wall-hanging form
and installed on a wall or pillar of an indoor or outdoor for user
convenience and space utilization. In this case, a wall-hanging
bracket suitable for the characteristics of the product may be
added in general.
[0005] The home ESS pack approximately has a size of about
120.times.80.times.20 cm and a weight of about 100 kg, and several
home ESS packs may be used in succession.
[0006] Depending on storage capacity, the ESS pack may be
configured differently in size and weight. For example, a home ESS
pack having a built-in DC-DC converter is fabricated larger than a
home ESS pack without a DC-DC converter.
[0007] Meanwhile, the home ESS pack case is configured so that
upper and lower covers are assembled in a case body 1. Since the
conventional case body is integrally manufactured by means of
extrusion molding (see FIG. 1), it is very difficult to widen the
width in a lateral direction (an X-axis direction), among its
length, width and height. Thus, the conventional ESS pack case has
a large space restriction when additional electric components such
as a DC-DC converter are included. In addition, in a flame spread
resistance test (a test to check whether flame is exposed out of a
pack case after an ignition occurs inside the pack case), which is
one of certification tests for product performance and safety (for
example, UL certification), since the conventional ESS pack is
manufactured using an integrally extruded case, if an ignition
occurs inside the pack case, the pack case is easily deformed due
to the increase of pressure caused by the generated gas. As a
result, the conventional ESS pack often fails the certification
tests.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0008] The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of
the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed
to providing an ESS battery pack case, which may have an inner
space enough to additionally incorporate electric components such
as a DC-DC converter and also easily discharge pressure to pass a
flame spread resistance test and the like.
[0009] However, the technical objects aimed by the present
disclosure are not limited to the above, and other objects not
mentioned herein will be apparently understood from the following
description by those skilled in the art.
Technical Solution
[0010] In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided
an energy storage system (ESS) battery pack case, which has an
inner space formed to accommodate a battery module and electric
component, the ESS battery pack case comprising: a case body having
at least two plates assembled to each other by fitting so as to be
connected to each other along a circumferential direction thereof
to form a hollow therein, the case body having an open top end and
an open bottom end; and an upper cover assembly configured to cover
the top end of the case body and a lower cover assembly configured
to cover the bottom end of the case body.
[0011] An adhesive sealing material may be further interposed at
every assembling portion of the at least two plates.
[0012] An insert groove may be prepared at any one of an end of any
one plate among the plates and an end of another plate adjacent to
the any one plate, and an insert protrusion coupled to the insert
groove by fitting may be prepared at the another plate.
[0013] The insert groove and the insert protrusion may be
respectively formed successively along a vertical edge of the
plates.
[0014] The at least two plates may be prepared into a predetermined
form by means of extrusion molding.
[0015] A drainage hole may be formed in the lower case assembly to
pass therethrough in a vertical direction.
[0016] Bolt-coupling blocks may be provided in the case body to
protrude inwards at predetermined locations, and the upper and
lower cover assemblies may have bolt-coupling holes formed to
correspond the bolt-coupling blocks in one-to-one relationship so
that bolts are respectively coupled and fixed to the top end and
the bottom end of the case body.
[0017] The upper cover assembly and the lower cover assembly may
respectively include a cover body configured to cover the top end
or the bottom end of the case body and a strength-reinforcing plate
made of metal and assembled to an inner region of a rim of the
cover body.
[0018] The strength-reinforcing plate may have a pair of vertical
plates disposed with an interval corresponding to a width of the
case body to be stand vertically with respect to the cover body,
and the case body may have a vertical plate insert portion therein,
formed at an inner side of the plates which are opposite to each
other in a width direction of the case body, so that the pair of
vertical plates are vertically coupled to the vertical plate insert
portion by fitting.
[0019] The vertical plate insert portion may be provided in a pair
so that two vertical plate insert portions are disposed to be
spaced from each other, and each vertical plate insert portion may
be formed to protrude and bend from an inner side of the case body
into a "T" shape.
[0020] The case body may include a front plate which forms a front
surface and both side surfaces of the case body, and a rear plate
which is coupled to the front plate by fitting and forms a rear
surface of the case body.
[0021] The front plate may include a front left plate which forms a
part of the front surface and the left surface of the case body,
and a front right plate which is coupled to the front left plate by
fitting and forms the remaining part of the front surface and the
right surface of the case body.
[0022] The front right plate may include a front right upper plate
and a front right lower plate which are assembled up and down so
that a display panel for displaying a state of charge of the
battery module to the outside is interposed therebetween.
[0023] Bolts may be further coupled to assembling portions where
the front left plate and the front right upper plate are
respectively connected to the rear plate, and a latch may be
coupled to an assembling portion where the front right lower plate
is connected to the rear plate.
[0024] The rear plate may include a rear left plate which forms a
part of the rear surface of the case body, and a rear right plate
which is coupled to the rear left plate by fitting and forms the
remaining part of the rear surface of the case body.
Advantageous Effects
[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide an ESS battery pack case, which may have an
inner space enough to additionally incorporate electric components
such as a DC-DC converter and also easily discharge pressure to
pass a flame spread resistance test and the like.
[0026] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the ESS battery pack case may have improved product stability and
reliability since it has an anti-swelling structure and a drainage
structure.
[0027] In addition, the case body may allow convenient maintenance
and repair since it may be separated into each part.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a case
body of a conventional ESS battery pack.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ESS battery pack
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the ESS battery pack of
FIG. 2, observed from a rear side.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ESS battery pack
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at which
essential parts are dissembled.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the case body of FIG.
4, which is separated into each plate.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view showing the case body of
FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows only the front plate separately, in the case
body of FIG. 6.
[0035] FIG. 8 shows only the rear plate separately, in the case
body of FIG. 6.
[0036] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a region A of FIG. 6.
[0037] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing a region B of FIG.
6.
[0038] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing a region C of FIG.
6.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the case body
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from which
the front right plate is separated, along with the lower cover
assembly.
[0040] FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the case body and the
lower cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, before and after being assembled.
[0041] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing essential parts of the case
body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from
which the front left plate is separated, along with the lower cover
assembly.
[0042] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a region D of FIG.
4.
BEST MODE
[0043] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that
the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should
not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but
interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to
technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the
principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms
appropriately for the best explanation.
[0044] Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a
preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not
intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be
understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made
thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
[0045] Since the embodiments disclosed herein are provided for more
perfect explanation of the present disclosure, the shape, size and
the like of components may be exaggerated, omitted or simplified in
the drawings for better understanding. Thus, the size and ratio of
components in the drawings do not wholly reflect the actual size
and ratio.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ESS battery pack
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 3 is a
perspective view showing the ESS battery pack of FIG. 2, observed
from a rear side, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ESS
battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
at which essential parts are dissembled, and FIG. 5 is a
perspective view showing the case body 20 of FIG. 4, which is
separated into each plate.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, an ESS battery pack case 10
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a
case body 20 which forms a hollow and has an open top end and an
open bottom end, and an upper cover assembly 30 and a lower cover
assembly 40 respectively coupled to the top end and the bottom end
of the case body 20 to cover the top end and the bottom end of the
case body 20.
[0048] As will be explained in more detail later, the ESS battery
pack case 10 of the present disclosure may provide an inner space
enough to accommodate electric components such as a DC-DC converter
by assembling at least two plates with each other to form the case
body 20. The case body 20 may be expanded in a lateral direction
(an X-axis direction in FIG. 2) of the case body 20 by additionally
assembling at least two plates, separately prepared by means of
extrusion molding, along a circumferential direction. Meanwhile,
all plates of this embodiment are manufactured by means of
extrusion molding, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto.
[0049] First, the case body 20 of the ESS pack case 10 according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in
detail. The case body 20 may be mainly composed of into a front
plate 100 and a rear plate 200. The front plate 100 may correspond
to a portion forming a front surface and both side surfaces of the
case body 20. Also, the rear plate 200 may correspond to a portion
forming a rear surface of the case body 20.
[0050] The front plate 100 and the rear plate 200 may be assembled
by fitting their edge portions in a vertical direction into each
other, and then completely coupling and fixing them by using bolts
B in a direction from the back surface toward the front surface as
shown in FIG. 3. A width of the case body 20 in a lateral direction
(an X-axis direction in FIG. 3) is determined by the widths of the
front plate 100 and the rear plate 200. When the case body 20 is
integrally manufactured by extrusion, the size of the case body 20
may be limited within a certain range due to a molding machine.
However, if a plurality of plates are separately prepared by
extrusion and then assembled, it is possible that the case body 20
has a larger size than the limited size of the integral case body
20.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the front plate 100 may also be
composed of a front left plate 110 and a front right plate 120
which are separated from each other in a left and right direction.
The front left plate 110 may correspond to a portion forming a part
of the front surface and the left surface of the case body 20. The
front right plate 120 may correspond to a portion forming the
remaining part of the front surface and the right surface of the
case body 20.
[0052] In addition, the front right plate 120 may also be composed
of a front right upper plate 121 and a front right lower plate 122
separated from each other in a vertical direction. In other words,
the front plate 100 of this embodiment may be formed by assembling
of three plates in total.
[0053] The rear plate 200 may be composed of a rear left plate 210
and a rear right plate 220 which are separated from each other in a
lateral direction, similar to the front plate 100. The rear left
plate 210 may correspond to a portion forming a left side of the
rear surface of the case body 20, and the rear right plate 220 may
correspond to a portion forming a right side of the rear surface of
the case body 20. In other words, the rear plate 200 of this
embodiment may be formed by assembling two plates in total.
[0054] A wall-hanging bracket 60 may be coupled to the rear left
plate 210, and a heatproof plate 70 may be mounted to the rear
right plate 220. The heatproof plate 70 may be installed from an
inside of the rear right plate 220 to an outside thereof through a
hole 221 formed in the rear right plate 220.
[0055] In this embodiment, the front left plate 110, the front
right plate 120, the rear right plate 220 and the rear left plate
210 may be assembled in a circumferential direction or a clockwise
direction by fitting their edges in a vertical direction into each
other.
[0056] The front right upper plate 121 and the front right lower
plate 122, which form the front right plate 120, may be assembled
to be fit into the front left plate 110 and the rear right plate
220, which are separated vertically and independently adjacent to
each other.
[0057] Between the front right upper plate 121 and the front right
lower plate 122, a display panel 50 for displaying a state of
charge of a battery module to the outside may be located. Also, the
display panel 50 may be equipped with a device on/off switch.
[0058] The front right lower plate 122 may be assembled to be
relatively easily separated from other adjacent plates. The front
plate 100 and the rear plate 200 of this embodiment may be
assembled with each other by fitting and then tightly coupled by
using bolts. Here, the front right lower plate 122 may be coupled
to the rear plate 200 by using a latch 300, instead of a bolt.
[0059] In detail, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the front left plate
110 and the front right upper plate 121 are assembled to the rear
plate 200 by fitting and coupled thereto by using the bolts, and
the front right lower plate 122 is assembled to the rear plate 200
by fitting and coupled thereto by using the latch 300. Thus, the
front right lower plate 122 may be easily dissembled from the
surrounding plates by releasing the latch 300 without using a
separate tool.
[0060] A control module of the ESS pack, a power cable connector
and the like may be positioned inside the front right lower plate
122. In this case, the tasks related to the control module and the
power cable connector of the ESS pack may be easily carried out
just by separating the front right lower plate 122.
[0061] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, the case body 20 of this
embodiment is composed of five unit plates in total. However, it is
also possible that the case body 20 is prepared by assembling two
to four unit plates, or six or more unit plates to be connected in
a circumferential direction.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view showing the case body of
FIG. 4, FIG. 7 shows only the front plate separately, in the case
body of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 shows only the rear plate separately, in the
case body of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a region A
of FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing a region B of FIG.
6, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing a region C of FIG.
6.
[0063] Hereinafter, the structure of assembling unit plates of the
case body 20 by fitting will be described in more detail with
reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.
[0064] Five unit plates in total as described above may be
assembled by means of mutual fitting. An insert groove H1, H2, H3,
H4 may be provided to any one of an end of any one plate among the
five unit plates and an end of another plate adjacent to the any
one plate, and an insert protrusion P1, P2, P3, P4 fit into the
insert grooves H1, H2, H3, H4 may be provided to the other. The
insert groove H1, H2, H3, H4 and the insert protrusion P1, P2, P3,
P4 may be formed at both ends of an edge of each plate in a
vertical direction (a Z-axis direction).
[0065] For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the insert groove H1
of the front left plate 110 and the insert protrusion P2 of the
front right plate 120 may assembled to each other by fitting to
form the front plate 100, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the insert
groove H3 and the insert protrusion P3 of the rear left plate 210
and the insert protrusion P4 and the insert groove H4 of the rear
right plate 220 may be assembled to each other by fitting to form
the rear plate 200. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11,
the insert grooves H1, H2 at both edges of the front plate 100 and
the insert protrusions P3, P4 at both edges of the rear plate 200
may be assembled to each other by fitting to form the case body
20.
[0066] In other words, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the insert groove
H1 may be provided at the left and right edges of the front left
plate 110, the insert protrusion P2 may be provided at the left
edge of the front right plate 120, and the insert groove H2 may be
provided at the right edge of the front right plate 120. In
addition, the insert protrusion P3 may be provided at the left edge
of the rear left plate 210, and the insert groove H3 and the insert
protrusion P3 may be provided together at the right edge of the
rear left plate 210. Moreover, the insert protrusion P4 and the
insert groove H4 may be provided together at the left edge of the
rear right plate 220, and the insert protrusion P4 may be provided
at the right edge of the rear right plate 220.
[0067] An adhesive sealing material S may be further interposed at
each assembling portion of the plates according to this embodiment.
The adhesive sealing material S serves to increase the sealing
performance of the assembling portion by filling the space between
two fit plates. Also, the adhesive sealing material S has an
adhesive force to eliminate a step between two plates, so that the
assembling portions may be closely adhered to each other.
[0068] The adhesive sealing material S may employ, for example, a
polyethylene (PE) tape, and the PE tape (see FIG. 12) may be
continuously attached along a vertical edge of each plate. As shown
in FIGS. 6 and 9 to 11, the adhesive sealing material S may be
interposed at four places in total, corresponding to the assembling
portion between plates along a circumferential direction of the
case body 20.
[0069] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the case body 20
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from which
the front right plate 120 is separated, along with the lower cover
assembly 40, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the case body
20 and the lower cover assembly 40 according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure, before and after being assembled.
[0070] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the case body 20 may include
bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 which protrude from an inner side
thereof at predetermined positions. The bolt-coupling blocks 130,
230 are the structures used to couple the upper cover assembly 30
and the lower cover assembly 40.
[0071] In this embodiment, the bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 may be
formed to elongate in a vertical direction from the bottom end of
the case body 20 to the top end thereof, and five bolt-coupling
blocks may be provided in total so that two bolt-coupling blocks
are provided at the front plate 100 and three bolt-coupling blocks
are provided at the rear plate 200. Here, the front plate 100
having the bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 may be limited to the
front left plate 110. As described above, the front right lower
plate 122 of the front plate 100 allows convenient detachment
without coupling the lower cover assembly 40 and the bolt B.
[0072] The lower cover assembly 40 is provided in a plate shape
which may completely cover the bottom end of the case body 20, and
has bolt-coupling holes 48 formed vertically through the
bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 at positions corresponding thereto in
one-to-one relationship. As shown in FIG. 14, the bottom end of the
case body 20 is covered with the lower cover assembly 40 so that
the bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 are aligned with the
bolt-coupling holes 48, and then five bolts B are inserted into the
bolt-coupling holes 48, respectively, and coupled to the
bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230, so that the lower cover assembly 40
is fixedly coupled to the bottom end of the case body 20.
[0073] The upper cover assembly 30 and the case body 20 are coupled
substantially in the same way as the lower cover assembly 40. In
other words, bolts may be inserted into the bolt-coupling holes
formed in the upper cover assembly 30, and then the bolts may be
coupled to the bolt-coupling blocks 130, 230 at the top end of the
case body 20.
[0074] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing essential parts of the case
body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from
which the front left plate is separated, along with the lower cover
assembly.
[0075] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 15, the upper cover assembly 30 and
the lower cover assembly 40 may respectively include a cover body
and a strength-reinforcing plate 42. The cover body forms an
appearance of the upper and lower cover assemblies 40 and may be
made of a plastic material that is easy to mold. The cover body may
have a size capable of covering the top end or the bottom end of
the case body 20.
[0076] The strength-reinforcing plate 42 may be a metal plate that
is assembled to an inner region of a rim of the cover body. The
strength-reinforcing plate 42 reinforces the strength of the cover
body made of plastic and is connected to the case body 20 to
prevent swelling of the case body 20.
[0077] The strength-reinforcing plate 42 has a pair of vertical
plates 44 which stands vertically with respect to the cover body at
intervals corresponding to a width (in a Y-axis direction) of the
case body 20. In the case body 20, vertical plate insert portions
140, 240 are formed at the inner surfaces of the plates, which are
opposite to each other in a width direction (a Y-axis direction) of
the case body 20, so that the pair of vertical plates 44 may be fit
in a vertical direction.
[0078] In detail, referring to FIGS. 8, 12 to 13 and 15 together,
the vertical plate insert portions 140, 240 may be provided in a
pair so that the pair of vertical plate insert portions 140, 240
are formed at an inner side of the case body 20, namely at inner
sides of the front left plate 110 and the rear left plate 210,
which are opposite to each other, along the vertical direction.
Each vertical plate insert portion 140, 240 may protrude from the
inner surface of the corresponding plate into a "T" shape. In this
case, an empty space is slightly formed between the inner surface
of the plate and a bent head portion of the vertical plate insert
portion 140, 240. The vertical plate 44 may have a thickness
capable of entering the empty space.
[0079] Four vertical plate insert portions 140, 240 are provided in
total, and two vertical plate insert portions 140, 240 are provided
as a pair at the inner surface of the front left plate and the
inner surface of the rear left plate, respectively. The pair of
vertical plate insert portions 140, 240 are spaced apart from each
other with an interval corresponding to the width of the vertical
plate 44 of the strength-reinforcing plate 42.
[0080] Thus, as shown in FIG. 15, when the lower cover assembly 40
is assembled to the bottom end of the case body 20, the vertical
plate 44 may be pushed up below two vertical plate insert portions
140, 240, and the vertical plate 44 may be constrained between the
inner surface of the plate and the bent head portions of two
vertical plate insert portions 140, 240.
[0081] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the upper cover assembly 30
may also include a strength-reinforcing plate, which is identical
to the strength-reinforcing plate 42 of the lower cover assembly
40, so that the strength-reinforcing plate 42 of the upper cover
assembly 30 and the case body 20 are assembled. This will not be
explained in detail here and may be referred to the explanation
about the strength-reinforcing plate 42 of the lower cover assembly
40.
[0082] Since the pair of vertical plates 44 of the
strength-reinforcing plate 42 are coupled to the front plate 100
and the rear plate 200 of the case body 20, which are opposite to
each other, by fitting to support the case body 20, the deformation
of the case body 20 in a width direction (a Y-axis direction) may
be prevented. In other words, in the ESS pack case 10 of the
present disclosure, since the upper and lower cover assemblies 40
have a double structure composed of the cover body and the
strength-reinforcing portion, the upper and lower cover assemblies
40 firmly hold the upper and lower portions of the case body 20.
Also, since the pair of vertical plate 44 additionally supports the
inner side of the case body 20, it is possible to prevent swelling
of the case body 20 even when the inner pressure of the case body
20 rises.
[0083] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the lower cover assembly 40
according to the present disclosure may further include a drainage
hole 46 formed therethrough in a vertical direction. By preparing
the drainage hole 46 in the lower cover assembly 40, it is possible
to smooth discharge dew condensation and moisture inside the pack
case 10.
[0084] The ESS pack case 10 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure is formed such that at least two plates are
assembled along the circumferential direction as described above,
and thus the lateral width of the product is much larger than that
of a pack case 10 which is formed by extrusion molding. Thus, the
ESS pack case 10 of the present disclosure may give an inner space
enough to include various electric components.
[0085] In addition, in the case of an integrated pack case 10, it
is not easy to discharge the internal pressure since the pack case
10 is completely sealed. However, the ESS pack case 10 of the
present disclosure may very easily discharge the inner pressure,
compared to the integrated pack case 10, since plates are
classified into several parts and assembled separately. Thus, in a
state where the internal pressure of the pack case 10 increases,
like a flame spread resistance test (a test to check whether flame
is exposed out of the pack case after ignition occurs in the pack
case), the ESS pack case 10 of the present disclosure may easily
discharge the internal pressure and also prevent the deformation of
the case body 20 in the width direction by means of the pair of
vertical plates 44 of the upper and lower cover assemblies 40,
thereby preventing the swelling of the pack case 10.
[0086] The present disclosure has been described in detail.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the scope of the disclosure will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
[0087] Meanwhile, when the terms indicating up, down, left and
right directions are used in the specification, it is obvious to
those skilled in the art that these merely represent relative
locations for convenience in explanation and may vary based on a
location of an observer or a shape in which an object is
placed.
TABLE-US-00001 Reference Signs 10: ESS battery pack case 20: case
body 30: upper cover assembly 40: lower cover assembly 42:
strength-reinforcing plate 44: vertical plate 46: drainage hole 50:
display panel 60: wall-hanging bracket 70: heatproof plate 100:
front plate 110: front left plate 120: front right plate 121: front
right upper plate 122: front right lower plate 200: rear plate 210:
rear left plate 220: rear right plate 130, 230: bolt-coupling block
140, 240: vertical plate insert portion H1, H2, H3, H4: insert
groove P1, P2, P3, P4: insert protrusion
* * * * *